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THE 


ELDERSHIP 


PRESBYTERIAIV  CHURCH. 


SERMON 


PREACHED   BEFORE   THE 


(H^^avltuton  W^nion  Jlttstiffttru^ 


APRII.  4th,  i§36. 


BY  THE 


Rev.  THOMAS  SMi;rH,v_   „  .^   . 

fASTOR  or  THE  SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHORCH,  CHARLESTON.  I 


CHARLESTOxX: 

PRINTED  BY  A.  X.  MILLER. 
No.  4  Broad-street, 

1836. 


DEDICATED 

TO  THE 

SOUTHERN  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCHES, 

FOR  THE 
PEOMOTION  OF  WHOSE  WELFARE, 
THE  FOLLOWING  SERMON 
WAS  WRITTEN, 
AND 
IS  NOW  PUBLISHED. 


PREFACE. 


THE  following  discourse  was  delivered  before  the  Charleston  Union 
Presbytery  at  one  ofits  regular  meetings.  The  hope  thatit  may  do  good, 
by  calling  the  attention  of  our  Churches  to  the  nature,  duties,  and  charac- 
ter of  the  Eldership — by  exciting  inquiry  into  this  subject — by  calling  at- 
tention to  its  present  woful  condition — by  imparting  a  stronger  conviction 
ofits  importance,  dignity  and  necessity — and  by  leading  to  the  adoption 
of  such  measures,  as  will  restore  it  to  its  designed  influence  in  the 
Church  of  Christ — this  he  humbly  trusts  is  the  author's  motive  for 
sending  it  forth  to  the  Christian  public.  In  doiug  so,  he  has  acted 
not  merely  on  his  own  judgment,  but  by  the  request  and  advice  of 
those  who  are  capable  of  determining  the  adaptation  of  this  discussion 
to  the  end  in  view.* 

Before  the  reader  enters  upon  the  perusal  of  this  Sermon,  he  is  re- 
quested to  read  the  following  remarks,  which  will  possibly  prepare 
him  to  examine  it  with  more  candour,  and  a  greater  willingness  to 
admit  its  principles,  and  to  act  upon  its  suggestions. 

It  has  been  thought  by  some,  that  the  j)lan  of  action  here  laid  down 
for  Elders,  though  followed  in  "the  olden  times,"  and  in  European 
Churches,  is  not  accordant  to  the  system  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  these  United  States,  and  even  if  it  were,  altogether  impracticable. 

"We  think  it,  however,  very  demonstrable,  that  this  plan  is  acknow- 
ledged by  our  Church  in  tbis  country,  implied  in  or  required  by  our 
Book  of  Discipline,  and  followed  by  many  of  our  Congregations.  In 
illustrating  our  positions,  we  have  quoted  chiefly  from  foreign  writers 
because  we  believed  their  views  would  come  to  the  minds  of  those 
who  heard,  with  more  of  the  power  of  freshness  and  originality,  and 
free  from  any  of  the  weakening  influence  of  prejudice. 

*  It  may  be  proper  here  to  state,  t]iat  one  gentleman  who  has  urged  the  autlior 
to  publish  this  discourse,  freely  meets  all  its  expense. 


VI 

That  this  jilan  is  however  acknowledged  by  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  this  country,  will  be  evident,  if  we  remember,  that  the 
Kirk  of  Scotland  is  her  model — that  she  has  adopted  her  standards — 
that  whatever  she  has  nxKlified  or  altered,  has  had  no  reference  to  this 
subjeet^and  consequently,  that  the  office  of  the  Eldership  is  regarded 
by  her  in  the  same  light  in  which  it  is  considered  by  that  earlier  Church. 
The  truth  in  this  matter  can  be  brought  to  a  very  certain  test.  Let 
us  retrace  the  history  of  our  Churches  in  this  land,  and  as  we  gradu- 
ally approach  their  origin,  do  we  not  find  this  system  more  and  more 
perfectly  followed?  And  is  it  not  the  unquestionable  standard  by 
which  the  character  of  Elders  was  then  estimated  ? 

It  is  also  implied  in  our  Book  of  Discipline.  •'Ruling  Elders  are 
properly  the  representatives  of  the  people,  chosen  by  them  for  the 
purpose  of  exercising  government  and  discipline,  in  conjunction  uithjias- 
tors  and  ministers.''''*  But  if  the  duties  laid  down  in  this  Sermon  are 
omitted,  what  government  and  discipline,  in  conjunction  with  their 
pastors,  can  Elders  exercise?  Again — in  the  form  of  ordaining  Rul- 
ing Elders,  one  question  to  be  propounded  is  this,  "Do  you  accept 
the  office  of  Ruling  Elder  in  this  Congregation,  and  promise  faith- 
fully to  perform  all  the  duties  thereof  ?"f  What  duties,  but  those 
which  they  had  ever  been  accustomed  to  perform  ?  Is  not  this  as 
necessarily  implied  in  the  subsequent  question  put  to  the  people, 
which  requires  that  they  should  express  their  willingness  to  yield 
all  that  honour,  encouragement  and  obedience  in  the  Lord,  to 
which  his  office,  according  to  the  word  of  God,  and  the  consti- 
tution of  this  Church  entitles  him.  Again — we  ask  what  duties  but 
those  referred  to  can  they  be,  which  age  or  infirmity  can  render  a 
man  incapable  of  performing  ?t — for  it  will  be  shewn,  that  the  distri- 
bution of  the  elements  at  the  Lord's  table,  is  no  necesssu-y  part  of  the 
duties  of  an  Elder.  And  for  what  other  purpose  is  the, Elder  so 
solemnly  ordained,  and  invested  with  almost  as  much  spiritual  autho- 
rity as  the  Minister  ?  The  early  decisions  of  the  General  Assembly, 
in  which  Elders  are  required  to  be  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  these 
duties,  and  especially  in  those  of  family  visitation  and  catechetical 
instruction,  make  our  interpretation  of  the  form  of  government  indis- 

*  See  Form  of  Governinent,  Chap.  v. 
t  See  do.  do.        Chapxiii.  $3. 

See  do.  do.  do. 


VJI 


putable  1*  When  the  Synod  of  New- York  and  Philadelphia  united 
in  1758,  they  agreed  on  this  principle.  "  We  do  still  receive  the  same 
(that  is  the  Confession  and  Catechisms)  as  the  confession  of  our  faith, 
and  also  the  plan  of  worshij),  government  and  discipline  contained  in 
the  Westminster  Directory."  And  Dr.  Miller,  who  has  examined  this 
subject  as  thoroughly,  at  least,  as  any  other  man,  when  he  comes  to  speak 
of  the  nature  and  duties  of  the  office,  seems  to  intimate  that  he  had  now 
passed  over  what  was  contested,  and  entered  upon  what  was  plainly 
acknowledged,!  while  his  schedule  of  duties  and  qualifications  will 
be  found  even  more  ample  than  that  presented  in  this  discourse.  Si- 
milar duties  are  assigned  to  this  office,  by  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
this  country.t  In  the  Cambridge  Platform  of  Church  Discipline, 
adopted  in  1648,  and  in  force  in  all  the  New-England  Colonies,  until 
superceded  in  Connecticut  by  the  Saybrook  Platform  in  1708,  the 
duties  of  Ruling  Elders,  passing  over  what  relates  to  discipline,  are 
thus  described—"  5.  To  be  guides  and  leaders  to  the  Church,  in  all  mat- 
ters whatsoever  pertaining  to  Church  administrations  and  actions.  6, 
To  see  that  none  in  the  Church  live  inordinately,  &c.  7.  To  prevent 
and  heal  such  offences  in  life,  or  in  doctrine,  as  might  corrupt  the 
Church.  8.  To  feed  the  flock  of  God  with  a  word  of  admonition. 
9.  And  as  they  shall  be  sent  for  to  visit  and  pray  over  their  sick  bre- 
thren. 10.  And  at  other  times  as  opportunities  shall  serve  thereun- 
to."§  Such  are  the  views  of  this  office,  taken  by  early  American 
Divines,  as  the  Rev.  John  Cotton,||  John  Davenport, H  Cotton  Ma- 
ther,** Dr.Dwight,ft  not  to  mention  many  others. 

And  this  system  is  still  pursued  by  very  many  Churches  in  our 
country.  In  the  Rules  of  an  Association  of  Elders  of  the  Second  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia,  it  is  most  explicitly  and  fully  laid  down,  as 
that  which  they  felt  incumbent  upon  ihem  as  Elders  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church.«  In  the  central  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  same 
city,  "  the  Session  have  resolved  as  a  standing  rule,  that  they  will  visit 

*  See  extracts  from  minutes   of  the  Assembly,  Philad.  1803,  pp.  144,  196,  3, 
150.     See  also,  the  Assembly's  Digest,  pp.  Ill,  112, 114,  fcc. 
t  Miller  on  the  Nature  and  Duties  of  the  Eldership,  p.  193. 
tSee  Schmucker's  Theology,  Appendix,  p.  374. 
$  Chap.  vii.  2,  see  texts  quoted.         ||  Miller  on  Eldership,  p.  151. 
H  Miller  on  Eldership,  p.  152.        **  Do.  p.  157.        ft  Theology,  vol.  5,  p.  251. 
tt  See  Rules  of  An  Association,  Sec: 


Vlll 

the  Church  members  at  least  once  in  six  months."*  And  such, 
doubtless,  is  the  fact,  in  regard  to  very  many  other  Churches  in  our 
land.f 

Now  if  tliis  is  so  evidently  the  system  acknowledged  by  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  this  country,  implied  in  its  standards,  and  pursued 
by  those  Congregations  which  act  most  fully  on  the  principles  of 
Presbyterianism — and  if  this  system  is  thus  adopted,  because  it  is  be- 
lieved to  be  scriptural — on  what  pretence  will  it  be  said  that  it  is  im- 
practicable. What  is  the  true  source  of  difficulty  ?  Is  it  in  the  sys- 
tem, or  in  those  who  are  called  upon  to  pursue  it?  Has  it  arisen  from 
the  fact  that  Christians  would  not  receive  the  visits,  or  advice,  or 
prayers,  or  instructions  of  their  Elders,  or  because  Elders  have  ceased 
to  visit  and  advise,  and  ])ray  with,  and  instruct  the  people?  In  a 
Congregation  where  Pastoral  Visitation,  or  Lectures,  or  faithful  admo- 
nitions have  been  long  neglected,  it  is  very  difficult  to  introduce  these 
most  necessary  and  useful  exercises  of  the  ministerial  function. 
But  are  these,  therefore,  unfit  means  for  promoting  the  spiritual  well- 
being  of  a  Church?  Surely  not;  and  neither  is  the  fulfilment  of 
all  the  duties  of  the  Eldership  unnecessary  or  improper,  because  these 
duties  have  been  long  neglected.  It  may  not  be  possible  at  once  to 
restore  to  our  Churches  this  system  in  all  its  fullness,  but  we  may  gra- 
dually prepare  the  way  for  its  introduction,  by  setting  it  before  them  as 
the  standard  of  necessary  attainment,  towards  which  they  should  conti- 
nually aspire.  A  similar  course  is  pursued  in  the  Methodist  and  other 
Churches,  and  with  the  most  blessed  results,  and  why  not  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  ?  Let  not  the  scheme  be  pronounced  Utopian,  until 
it  has  first  been  proved  and  found  wanting.  The  author  is  unwilling  to 
think  that  we  have  so  far  degenerated  as  Christians,  that  what  our 
fathers  found  to  be  the  very  life  and  soul  of  the  Church,  we  cannot  or 
will  not  preserve;  and  if  this  discourse  will  lead  any  Churches  to 
the  re-establishment  of  an  efficient,  active,  zealous,  prayerful  and 
devoted  Eldership,  he  will  be  abundantly  repaid  for  all  his  labours. 
And  may  God  lead  to  this  desirable  and  most  needful  result,  and  to  his 
name  will  bo  all  the  glory. 

*  Sec  Manual  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Churcli,  &c.  p.  47. 

t  In  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  a  city  not  distant  from  Charleston,  the  Congre- 
gation is  divided  into  districts,  each  under  the  charge  of  one  Elder,  who  visits  tJie 
families  under  his  care  once  even  month. 


SERMON. 


Fathers  and  Brethren, — 

I  AM  permitted,  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  address 
3''ou  this  evening,  not  merely  in  the  ordinary  capacity  of 
a  Minister  of  Christ,  but  as  the  present  presiding  Bishop 
of  this  Presbytery.  Called  to  open  another  meeting  of 
this  important  ecclesiastical  judicatory,  which  may  never 
find  us  all  again  assembled  to  participate  in  its  delibera- 
tions, it  will  be  very  properly  expected,  that  I  should  call 
your  attention  to  whatever  the  interests  of  our  Church, 
and  the  cause  of  its  Divine  Head,  may  seem  most  to  re- 
quire. 

On  such  occasions  as  the  present,  it  is  very  customary 
to  bring  that  truth  home  to  the  bosom  and  consciences  of 
the  Ministers  of  Christ,  which  they  from  sabbath  to  sab- 
bath impress  upon  their  hearers.  This,  my  brethren,  is 
well.  Our  work  is  one  of  incomparable  difficulty,  toil 
and  labour.  It  is  one,  which  requires  for  its  proper  dis- 
charge, the  union  of  every  qualification  of  the  intellect, 
the  will,  and  the  heart.  It  is  a  work,  which  eclipses  by 
its  grandeur  all  sublunar}'^  occupations,  and  gives  to  all 
others  the  aspect  of  littleness,  and  comparative  worthless- 
ness.  From  its  absorbing  interest,  and  its  unceasing 
demands  upon  the  judgment,  the  memory,  and  the  time, 
it  is  eminently  delusive  in  its  influence  upon  the  feelings 
of  him  who  is  engrossed  in  its  official  duties,  by  leading 

away  his  attention  from  his  own  personal  condition  and 

2 


10 

character,  to  the  wants  and  woes  of  dying  souls  around 
him.  Hence,  the  necessity  for  that  watchfuhiess,  hunii- 
hty,  and  self-examination,  which  should  characterize  the 
Minister  of  Christ.  Hence,  the  wisdom  of  such  asso- 
ciations as  the  present,  where  we  may  bring  each  other 
to  the  standard  of  comparison,  and  thus  make  observa- 
tion uj)on  the  present  aspect  of  our  spiritual  nature. 
And  hence,  too,  the  importance,  on  such  solemn  occasions, 
and  with  all  the  weight  of  delegated  authority  and  power, 
of  exhorting  one  another,  and  admonishing  one  another, 
and  urging  each  other  by  all  the  motives  which  heaven 
and  hell  can  offer,  to  greater  devoted ness,  hohness,  and 
prayer.  Let  us,  then,  brethren,  in  this  sacred  pause  of 
public  duty,  as  we  are  now  in  the  presence  of  our  mas- 
ter, convened  in  his  name,  and  for  the  promotion  of  his 
glory,  examine  our  own  hearts  and  prove  our  ownselves, 
whether  we  be  in  the  faith,  rooted  and  grounded  in  Christ, 
and  be  not  moved  away  from  the  hope  of  the  Gospel. 

It  is,  however,  equally  important  and  proper,  that  with 
the  increased  interest  this  occasion  gives,  our  attention 
shoidd  be  directed  to  the  other  officers  of  the  Church,  and 
that  their  pure  minds  should  also  be  stirred  up  by  way  ot 
remembrance.  It  was  never  designed  by  Christ,  and 
we  know  it  was  not  believed  by  his  Apostles,  that  the 
whole  burden  of  the  spiritual  concerns  of  the  Church, 
should  be  borne  by  its  unaided  Pastors.  Elders,  a  class 
of  officers  which  had  existed  under  the  Mosaic  Economy, 
and  in  the  Jewish  Synagogues,  were  therefore  divinely  ap- 
pointed, that  they  might  be  associated  with  Pastors  in  the 
rule  and  government  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  And  we 
have  been  increasingly  of  the  opinion,  that  in  the  proper 
discharge  of  their  functions,  in  connexion  and  co-opera- 
tion with  the  Pnstor,  lies  the  whole  strength,  beauty  and 
symmetry  of  that  form  of  government  we  so  confidently 
believe  to  be  derived  from  the  word  of  God.  We  have 
therefore  thought,  that  we  would  be  doing  most  service 


11 

to  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer,  especially  in  this  Southern 
Zion,  by  bringing  before  you,  and  before  the  Elders  and 
Members  of  our  Churches,  on  this  interesting  occasion, 
this  most  imjjortant  subject. 

With  the  Apostle  Paul,  (1  Timothy,  v.  17.)  we  would 
therefore  say, 

"  LET  THE  ELDERS  WHO  RULE    WELL    BE  COUNTED    WOR- 
THY OF  DOUBLE  HONOUR." 

We  shall  not  occupy  3'our  attention  with  the  discussion  of 
the  scriptural  origin  of  such  officers.  This  question  has 
been  often  and  al;ly  examined,  and  especially  b}'  Dr.  Mil- 
ler, in  his  work  on  the  Nature  and  Duties  of  the  office  of 
lluUng  Elder.  The  following  positions  are  laid  down 
and  maintamed  in  the  work  referred  to;  that  this  office 
is  found  in  the  Old  Testament  economy — had  plainly  a 
place  in  the  Apostolic  Church — is  recognized  by  a  num- 
ber of  the  early  Fathers,  as  existing  in  their  day — the  wit- 
nesses of  the  truth  in  the  darkest  times,  and  the  great 
body  of  the  reformers  sanctioned  and  retained  it  as  of 
divine  appointment — some  of  the  most  learned  of  the 
Episcopal  and  Independent  divines  since  the  reformation, 
have  borne  decisive  testimony  to  this  office  as  of  aposto- 
lical authority — and  some  such  is  manifestly  indispensa- 
ble to  the  purity  and  order  of  the  Church.* 

We  find  a  plurality  of  Elders  in  ever}'  Church  organ- 
ized by  the  Apostles,  and  a  distinction  made  among  these 
Elders ;  some  being  described  as  ruling,  and  others  as, 
in  addition  to  ruling,  labouring  in  word  and  doctrine. 
The  Church  of  Christ  being  a  society  under  the  govern- 
ment of  spiritual  laws  and  regulations,  and  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  ordinances  designed  to  promote  its  peace,  hap- 
piness and  prosperity,  there  must  of  necessity  be  officers 

*  See  Miller  on  Eldership,  pp.  191,  29;  Dick's  Lect.  on  Theol.  vol.  iv.  p.  379, 
&c.;  Calvin's  Institutes ;  Mastrichl  Theologia;  Turretiiii  Instit.;  Stapferi  Insiit.; 
Harmony  of  the  Confessions  of  the  Reformed  Churches,  Lon.  1643,  the  eleventU 
section ;  Maurice's  Social  Religion  ;  and  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritaiis. 


12 

by  whom  these  laws  and  ordinances  may  be  regularly  and 
properly  administered.     Not  to  speak  of  the  worship  of 
the  Sabbath,  the  Sacraments  and  the  other  provisions  of 
the  sanctuary,  discipline  is  as  necessary  to  the  well-being 
of  any  Christian,  as  it  is  of  any  civil  community.     A  fa- 
mily in  which  there  is  no  order,  no  regularity  and  no 
authority — a  society  in  which  there  are  neither  rules  nor 
officers — or  any  aggregate  of  human  beings  directed  by 
no  fixed  principles,  under  the  control  of  no  power,  and 
the  restraint  of  no  government — is  a  correct  picture  of 
that  Church  where  there  is  no  spiritual  power,  and  in 
which  that  power  is  not  exercised  in  the  enforcement  of 
its  laws.     Discipline  is  the  application  of  those  rules  and 
principles  given  us  in  the  word  of  God,  for  the  promotion 
of  peace,  order  and  purity,  and  the  preservation  of  con- 
sistency and  devotedness.     It  is  designed  to  sustain  the 
authority  of  Christ — to  uphold  his  government  over  the 
hearts  and  lives  of  his  people — to  preserve  the  Church 
from  the  wiles  of  hypocrisy  and  the  disgrace  of  apostacy 
— to  secure  the  fulfilment  of  heaven's  commands,  and  the 
proper  use  of  the  instituted  means  of  Christian  improve- 
ment.    Discipline  will  embrace  the  inspection  of  mem- 
bers and  families — the  admonition  of  the  negligent — the 
reclamation  of  wanderers — the  removal  of  scandal — the 
correction  of  irregularities — the   reconciliation  of  differ- 
ences— the  visitation  of  all,  especially  the   sick  and  the 
inquiring — the   instruction  of    tlie  young,  the  ignorant 
and  distressed — the  promotion  of  knowledge  and  piety — 
the  careful  admission    of  candidates — and  the  suspen- 
sion  or  exclusion  of  such  as    act   inconsistently  or  sin- 
fully.    It  is  therefore  at  once  apparent,  that  the  faithful 
maintenance  of  discipline  in  any  Church,  is  necessary 
not  merely  to  its  pros|)erity,  but  almost  to  its  existence. 
Certain  it  is  that  the  purity  and  harmony  of  any  Church 
will   be  found   proportioned  to  the  zealous,  active  fulfil- 
ment of  these  great  duties.     It  is  equally  clear,  that  their 


13 

proper  discharge  requires  the  most  consummate  pru- 
dence, wisdom,  piety  and  devotedness. 

By  whom,  then,  are  these  .services  to  be  rendered,  and 
in  whom  is  all  this  wisdom  and  discretion  to  reside  ?  In 
the  Pastor  of  a  Chnrch  ?  In  one  single  man,  upon  whom  it 
is  incumbent,  to  sustain  the  public  exercises  of  religion — 
to  feed  the  flock  of  God  with  knowledge — to  administer 
the  sacraments  of  the  Church — to  plan  its  moveinents — 
to  conduct  all  its  operations — to  attend  all  its  judicatories, 
and  there  sustain  its  interests  and  defend  its  claims  ?  Is 
there  any  thing  in  the  whole  government  of  God,  either 
in  the  kingdom  of  nature  or  Providence — is  there  any 
thing  in  the  whole  sphere  of  human  action,  so  dispropor- 
tioned  to  the  end  in  view  as  sucii  an  arian<^ement  would 
be  ?  Atlas,  bearing  upon  his  own  unassisted  shoulders, 
the  whole  globe,  with  its  millions  of  inhabitants,  is  the  only 
counterpart  to  such  an  impossible  achievement,  which  can 
be  found  in  fact  or  fable.  And  even  viere  such  a  task  within 
the  capability  of  any  one  man,  would  it  be  expedient  or 
safe  in  the  present  condition  of  human  nature,  to  entrust 
it  to  him  ? 

We  do  not  find  in  the  New  Testament,  any  Church 
committed  to  the  guidance  of  one  man,  with  all  its  multi- 
plied interests  devolving  upon  him.  So  far  from  it, 
there  appears  to  have  been  in  the  Apostolic,  and  certain- 
ly in  the  primitive  Churches,  even  more  than  one,  and 
sometimes  many  teaching  and  preaching  Elders — each 
Church  having  its  Pastor  or  Pastors,  its  Doctor,  and  fre- 
quently also,  its  Teacher  or  Schoolmaster.  But  in  addition  to 
these,  there  were  in  every  Church  a  body  of  Ruling  Elders, 
called  and  ordained  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Teach- 
ing Elders,  who  were  associated  with  them  as  govern- 
ments or  helps:  and  who,  while  these  gave  themselves 
to  the  word  and  to  prayer,  were  employed  in  the  constant 
oversight  and  visitation  of  the  Church. 


14 

Some  such  offices  have  been  found  necessary  in  every 
denomination,  and  were  very  generally  restored  by  the 
Reformers.  And  where  they  have  not  existed,  there,  says 
Owen,  "  The  Church  has  become  weak  and  impoverish- 
ed, it  has  degenerated  into  anarchy  and  confusion,  its  self- 
rule  being  managed  with  vain  disputes  and  janghngs  to 
its  division  and  ruin;  or  else  it  has  been  given  up  to  the 
domination  of  some  prelatical  teachers,  to  rule  it  at  their 
pleasure." 

The  Eldership  in  the  view  of  the  restorers  of  Presbyte- 
rian order  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  was  regarded  as  a  spi- 
ritual office,  to  which  men  were  to  be  as  regularly  called 
and  ordained,  as  to  the  Ministry  of  the  Gospel,  and  pos- 
sessing in  its  sphere,  as  much  divine  authority  and  sanc- 
tion. The  office  was  voluntary,  and  as  those  appointed 
to  it  were  sup[)osed  to  be  engaged  in  some  worldly 
occupation,  only  a  limited  portion  of  their  time  could  be 
expected  to  be  devoted  to  its  duties.  To  become  a 
Ruling  Elder,  no  particular  age  was  requisite,  but  as  a 
man  could  become  a  Teaching  Elder  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five,  an  individual  of  even  fewer  yeas,  if  other- 
wise qualified,  could  not  be  deemed  unfit  for  a  Ruling 
Elder,  and  in  the  present  usage  of  the  Church  assuredly 
not.  To  be  a]>pointed  an  Elder,  a  man  must  be,  accord- 
ing to  the  first  Book  of  Discipline, t  "  of  the  best  knowledge, 
judgment  and  conversation,  and  be  lawfiill}'  called,  accord- 
ing to  God's  word  and  order  established  in  the  Kirk,  hav- 
ing soundness  in  religion,  and  godliness  of  life;"  -and  ac- 
cording to  the  second  Book  of  Discipline,  drawn  uj)  in 
1705,  they  are  to  be  "  men  of  the  greatest  prudence,  gra- 
vity and  interest  in  the  parish."* 

As  Elders  were  not  Laymen,  but  were  invested  with  a 
spiritual  and  holy  office,  their  fitness  was  a  matter  of  as 

•  See  Irvinp'e  ConfessioriH  of  Faith,  pp.  50,  72,  155.     See  also  Knox's  History 
of  the  Reformation,  pp.  230,  232. 
t  Drawn  up  by  Jolin  Knox. 


16 

faithful  examination  as  that  of  the  Preaching  or  Teach- 
ing Elder.  To  quote  from  an  old  Scotch  writer  of  great 
authority  on  this  subject,  "The  trial  is  to  be  by  the 
Minister  and  Eldership  of  the  congregation,  or  in  case  of 
their  want  of  these,  by  the  Presbytery.  And  they  are  to 
he  tried,  both  in  regard  to  their  conversation,  that  it  be 
blameless  and  holy,  and  also  in  regard  of  their  knowledge 
and  experience  of  the  things  of  God,  and  of  the  affairs  of 
his  house,  and  of  their  ability  and  prudence  for  govern- 
ment."* To  be  qualified  for  this  office,  a  man  should 
unquestionably  be  pious,  spiritual  in  his  character,  pos- 
sessed of  self-government,  not  morose,  imperious,  irrita- 
ble or  haughty,  actively  zealous,  well  esteemed  by  the  con- 
gregation, grave,  prudent,  unblameable  in  all  his  secular 
transactions  and  civil  relations,  a  judicious  manager  of  his 
own  family,  intelligent,  well  acquainted  with  the  doctrines 
of  the  Bible,  well  skilled  in  the  discipline  of  the  Church, 
well  acquainted  with  Christian  experience,  and  with  the 
nature  of  conversion  and  sanctification.f  As  ruling  and 
governing  the  Church  was  the  principal  part  of  the 
Elder's  employment,  he  was  called  Ruling  Elder,  that  it 
might  be  at  once  perceived  he  had  no  power  or  autho- 
rity to  teach  or  preach.  It  was  his  duty  to  help,  with 
the  Pastor,  to  watch  over  the  Church,  both  publicly 
and  privately.  The  duties  of  an  Elder  were,  therefore, 
of  a  more  private,  and  a  more  public  character.  The 
private  duties  were,  instruction,  especially  of  the  young 
— admonition  and  rebuke — comforting  the  afflicted di- 
recting the  weak  and  restoring  the  fallen — reconciling 
variances — praying — and  visiting  the  sick.  He  was  to 
strengthen  the  hands  and  encourage  the  heart  of  the  Pas- 
tor— to  stand  by  him  in  every  difficulty — and  to  defend  and 
uphold  him  by  his  prayers,  and  his  advice  ;  for  in  the 
first  Book   of  Discipline,  "the  Elders  are   required  to 

*  See  Presby.  Rev.  Nov.  1834,  p.  43.  f  See  Englee'  Tract. 


16 

watch  upon  all  men's  manners,  religion  and  conversation 
that  are  within  their  charge,  and  to  take  heed  to  the  doc- 
trine, diligence,  and  behaviour  of  their  Minister,  and  if 
need  be,  admonish  and  correct  them."* 

In  their  public  capacity,  the  Elders,  with  the  Pastor, 
constituted  the  Session  or  Church  Kirk — one  of  them 
from  each  Church,  in  a  given  district,  with  the  Pastor, 
formed  the  Presbytery — one  with  their  Pastor  from  each 
Church  in  a  larger  sphere,  a  Provincial  Synod — and  depu- 
ties in  equal  numbers  from  the  Presbyteries,  the  General 
or  National  Assembly.  In  these  courts,  Elders  had  power 
to  sit,  write,  debate,  and  vote,  and  conclude  in  all  matters 
handled  therein.  The  things  here  treated  of  are  matters 
of  Faith,  Doctrine,  Order  and  Discipline.  The  power  of 
Ruling  Elders  in  conjunction  with  the  Teaching  Elders, 
according  to  the  same  old  divine,  who  wrote  about  the  time 
of  the  restoration,  and  who  is  supposed  to  be  Guthi-ie,  the 
martyr,  is  what  is  called,  ^^Ist.  Dogfnatic,  whereby  they 
judge  of  truth  and  error  according  to  God's  word  only.  2. 
That  which  is  called  Diatacdc,  by  which  they  decern 
and  judge  of  the  circumstances  of  those  things  which 
belong  to  the  worship  of  God,  as  times,  places,  &.c.  3. 
That  which  is  critic  or  corrective,  by  which  censures  are 
exercised  on  the  scandalous,  and  obstinate,  &;c.  4.  That 
which  is  exusastic,  by  virtue  of  which  they  send,  autho- 
rize, and  give  power  to  Church  officers  to  serve  m  the 
house  of  God."  In  the  Second  Book  of  Discipline,  their 
duties  are  thus  described.  "  As  the  Pastors  and  Doctors 
should  be  diligent  in  teaching  and  sowing  the  seid  of  the 
word,  so  the  Elders  sould  be  cairful  in  seeking  the  fruit  of 
the  same  in  the  people.  It  apperteins  to  them  to  assist 
the  Pastor  in  examination  of  them  that  cumis  to  the  Lord's 
table  :  Item,  in  visiting  the  sick." 

*  Irviiig's  Confessions,  p.  51. 


17 

"  They  sould  cause  the  actes  of  the  assemblies,  as  Weill 
particular  as  generall,  to  be  put  in  execution  cairfullie. 

"  They  soukl  be  diligent  in  admonishing  all  men  of 
their  deutie,  according  to  the  reul  of  the  evangell.  Things 
that  the}^  cannot  correct  be  private  admonitions,  they 
sould  bring  to  the  Assembly  of  the  Eldership.  Their 
principall  office  is  to  hold  assemblies  with  the  Pastors  and 
Doctors,  who  ar  also  of  their  number,  for  establishing  of 
gude  order,  and  execution  of  discipline.  Unto  the  quhilk 
assemblies,  all  persons  ar  subject  that  remain  within  their 
bounds." 

Thus  it  appears  that  all  that  appertained  to  the  welfare 
of  the  congregation,  and  the  promotion  of  Christ's  cause, 
was  entrusted  to  their  chaige.  Of  such  impoitance  was 
the  fulfilment  of  these  duties  deemed  by  the  Reformers, 
that  they  were  anxious  to  have  men  exclusively  devoted 
to  this  work,  and  compensated  for  their  labour.  To  obvi- 
ate the  difficulty,  they  made  the  number  of  Elders  in  each 
congregation  large,  and  permitted  them  to  alternate  and 
relieve  each  other  for  a  given  time.  The  number  of 
Elders  was  regulated  by  the  extent  and  circumstances  of 
each  parish  or  congregation.  The  parish  was  divided 
into  a  number  of  districts.  Each  Elder  had  the  charge 
of  his  own  district.  The  names  of  all  the  people  within 
each  were  drawn  up  by  the  Eldei*.  It  was  his  duty  to 
visit  them  regularly,  and  report  to  the  Pastor  or  Pastors,  at 
the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Kirk  session.  It  was  enacted, 
in  1648,  that  the  Elders  should  visit  once  a.  month,  at  leasts 
and  report  to  the  assembled  session,  what  abuses  are 
existing,  and  also  make  known  to  the  Deacons,  any  cases 
of  want  which  demanded  their  attention  :  and  this  is  still 
the  law  of  the  Church  of  Scotland.* 

These  duties,  if  devolved  upon  a  few  individuals,  would 
be  altogether  disproportioned  to  the  time  they  could  be 

"See  TiaCton  Eldership  of  Church  of  Scotland,  p.  4. 

2 


18 

supposefl  to  spare  from  the  ordinary  avocations  of  life,  but 
divided  among  a  number,  they  woidd  be  hght  and  easy. 
Thus,  suppose  a  congregation  to  consist  of  one  hundred 
famihes — let  there  be  ten  elders  and  ten  districts,  and  let 
each  Elder  visit  his  district  once  a  month.  This  would 
require  each  man  to  pay  no  more  than  five  faithful,  regu- 
lar visits  in  two  weeks.  And  who  is  there  who  with  any 
love  to  Christ  and  the  souls  of  men,  could  not  find  time  to 
pay  two  visits  per  week,  and  discharge  the  other  duties 
arising  from  his  station  ?  In  a  small  parish  in  Fifeshire, 
in  1755,  which  contained  only  996  souls,  there  were  twen- 
ty-four Elders.  In  another  small  rural  parish,  there  were, 
150  years  since,  nearly  thirty  Elders.*  In  Cyprian's 
Church,  at  Carthage,  there  were  eight  Elders.  Soon 
after  the  Reformation,  in  the  Church  in  Edinburgh,  there 
were  twelve  Elders  antl  sixteen  Deacons.  In  1560,  four 
years  before  Calvin's  death,  there  were  twelve  Elders  in 
the  Church  of  Geneva.t 

Thus  associated  with  their  Pastor  or  Pastors,  and  thus 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  their  appropriate  duties,  and 
thus  regular  in  their  review  of  the  condition  and  wants  of 
the  Church — the  Eldership  will  at  once  be  seen  to  be  the 
bone  and  sinew  of  a  Church,  its  very  marrow,  its  nerves, 
without  which,  let  the  head  be  ever  so  eloquent,  devoted, 
and  pious,  the  body  nuast  languish  and  decay. 

Over  all  these  stood  the  Presbytery,  composed  of  the 
Pastors  and  Elders  of  many  neiglibotiring  Churches,  which 
prevented  the  Pastor  from  lording  it  over  the  Elders,  or 
the  Elders  over  the  Pastor.  In  the  golden  days  of  Presby- 
terianism,  it  was  a  regular  part  of  Presbyterial  duty,  to 
appoint  committees  ofvisitation  to  each  individual  Church, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  hear  the  Pastor  [)reach,  to  examine 
the  Pastor  respecting  the  fidelity  of  his  EUlers  and  mem- 
bers, in  their  absence ;  and   the  Elders  regarding  their 

*  Tract  do.  p.  5.  t  Miller,  Ac   p.  i>71. 


19 

Pastor,  in  his  absence,  and  the  members  respecting  both  ; 
and  report  accordingly.  As  a  curious  specimen  of  such 
Presbyterial  visitation,  I  will  give  the  following,  which 
has  been  preserved.  It  is  extracted  from  the  records  of 
the  Presbytery,  of  which  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Erskine  was 
a  member,  and  is  found  in  his  life,  by  the  Rev.  D.  Fraser. 
''At.  Portmoah  Kirk,  Sept.  20,  1710. 
**  According  to  appointment,  the  Presbytery  met  here 
this  day,  and  Mr.  Erskine,  minister  of  this  congregation, 
preached  to  this  text,  Ps.  xxiii.   4. — being  his  ordinary, 

wherein  he  was  approven.     Mr.  was  interrogated. 

1.  If  he  gave  due  intimation  of  this  visitation  to  the  par- 
ish ?  Answered,  Yes.  2.  If  his  Session  Book  be  in  rea- 
diness in  order  to  be  revised  ?  Answered,  That  the  min- 
utes are  not  yet  filled  up  in  the  register.  He  was  order- 
ed to  cause  them  to  be  filled  up,  to  the  end  they  may  be 
revised.  3.  If  he  preaches  twice  and  lectuies  every 
Lord's  day  .^  Answered,  Yes.  And  if  he  hath  week-day's 
sermon.''  Answered,  Yes.  5.  If  he  intimates  the  Assem- 
bly's act  against  profaneness  .f*  Answered,  He  did  read 
the  same.  6.  If  he  intimated  the  act  against  abuses  by 
penny  weddings  ?  Answered,  Yes,  and  speaks  to  the  peo- 
ple to  be  married  thereanent,  and  preaches  against  these 
abuses.  7.  If  he  reads  the  Synod's  act  anent  testimonials, 
and  if  it  be  inserted  in  their  Session  Book.''  Answered, 
Yes,  and  that  he  has  administered  the  same  thrice  since 
(he)  came  to  the  congregation.  9.  If  all  the  parishioners 
attend  the  ordinances.''  Answered,  He  cannot  complain. 
10.  If  all  the  Elders  attend  the  Session .''  Answered,  Yes, 
except  two,  who  have  abandoned  the  same.  11.  If  they 
pray  in  their  families .''  Answered,  He  thinks  so.  12. 
Are  they  grave,  pious,  and  exemplary  in  their  lives  .'*  An- 
swered, So  far  as  I  know.  13.  Are  they  diligent,  careful, 
and  impartial  in  the  exercise  of  their  office  .''  Answered, 
Yes.  14.  Do  the  Elders  call  for  testimonials  from  persons 
who  come  to  reside  in  the  parish .''     Answered,  he  does  it 


20 

himself  as  he  goes  through  visiting.  15.  Does  the  Session 
appoint  a  ruling  Elder  to  attend  Presbyteries  and  Synods  ? 
Answered,  Yes.  Mr.  Erskine  removed.  The  Presl)yte- 
ry  are  well  satisfied  with  his  answers  to  the  aforesaid  que- 
ries; and,  being  called  in,  this  was  intimated  to  liim,  and 
then  removed. 

"  The  Heritors  were  called  ;  Mr.  Kirkaldy  compeared 
for  Sir  Robert  Douglass  of  Kirkness,  Bailie  Steadman  for 
Sir  John  Bruce,  as  also  compeared  Gospetrie,  Geo.  Bur- 
rell,  and  several  other  feuars  in  the  parish,  who  were  inter- 
rogated. 1.  If  their  minister  gave  timeous  intimation  of 
his  visitation  ?  2.  If  he  had  a  Gospel-like  conversation.'* 
3.  If  he  keep  close  by  his  work  ^  4.  If  he  be  careful  of 
ministerial  visits.'*  5.  If  he  exercise  disciphne  against 
delinquents?  To  which  queries  they  answered  in  tbe 
affirmative. 

"  The  Elders  were  then  called,  and  the  same  questions 
proposed  to  them  as  to  the  Heritors.  Then  they  inquired 
if  all  the  Elders  attend  the  Session .''  Answered,  yes, 
except  two.  The  Elders  removed,  the  masters  of  fami- 
lies were  called,  and  were  interrogated  as  above.  Mr. 
Erskine  was  called  ;  he  was  interrogated  if  he  discoursed 
these  Elders  who  have  abandoned  the  Session,  why  they 
did  not  attend  the  same  ?  Answered,  There  was  a  Com- 
mittee of  Session  appointed  to  discourse  them  thereanent, 
as  the  minuteof  the  Session  bears."* 

If  we  wish  to  see  the  power  and  efficiency  of  such  a 
plan,  let  us  turn  our  eyes  to  Scotland,  as  she  was  some 
fifty  years  ago,  when  this  system  was  in  active  operation, 
and  when  she  stood  foith  to  the  world,  unquestionably 
the  most  moral,  intelligent,  and  religious  conmiunity  on 
the  face  of  the  globe.  And  it  is  our  hope  and  praj'er  that 
the  efforts  now  in  progress  for  the  restoration  of  the  Elder- 
ship to  its  designed  intluence  and  power  in  that  country, 
will  be  crowned  with  abundant  success. 

•  Life  of  Erskine,  by  Rev.  D.  Frazer. 


21 

My  brethren,  when  we  pass  from  the  contemplation  of 
the  Eldership  as  it  exists  in  the  platform  of  our  Church, 
and  has  been  exhibited  in  ils  former  history,  not  merely  in 

Scotland  but  in  Ireland,  and  in  Continental  Churches 

to  that  Eldership  as  it  now  apjK-ars,— what  a  melancholy 
contrast  is  presented  to  our  minds  ?  Where  are  we  to 
find  those,  who  in  the  spirit  of  their  office,  in  fidelity  to 
their  divine  master,  in  fulfilment  of  their  solemn  and  un- 
transferable obligations,  in  the  spirit  of  Christ,  of  love  and 
holy  devotion,  give  themselves  to  this  work,  and  with  earn- 
estness, pimctuahty  and  zeal  enter  upon  its  duties?— 
Where  are  we  to  look  for  Elders  who  regularly  visit  the 
flock  committed  to  their  governance  and  care— who  con- 
duct the  social  meetings  for  prayer — who  instruct  the  bap- 
tized children  of  the  Church— who  guide  the  anxious  and 
inquiring  mind— who  fbUow  up  the  ministrations  of  the 
pulpit  by  their  private  conversation,  exhortation  and  pray- 
ers—who find  out  the  wandering,  bring  in  the  outcast, 
reclaim  the  backsliding,  and  indeed  and  truth  co-operate 
with  him  who  laboureth  in  word  and  doctrine  ?  A  solita- 
ry Elder,  or  two  or  three  superannuated  and  inactive  men, 
for  a  Session,  is  here,  as  in  Scotland,  no  uncommon  spec- 
tacle. Even  where  there  are  more — their  number  is  still 
very  disproportionate  to  the  extent  of  the  congregation. 
And  do  not  our  Elders  appear  to  be  without  any  real  ap- 
prehension of  the  true  character  and  duties  of  their  office  ? 
Is  it  not  regarded  as  a  mere  human  appointment,  as  that 
which  they  may  conduct  as  they  please,  and  whose  duties 
they  may  measure  by  their  inchnation  or  leisure  ?  Are 
not  those  elected  by  our  congregations  to  this  important 
office,  who  are  in  no  manner  qualified  to  fill  it,— or  who 
will  not  use  their  qualifications.?  And  do  not  Christian 
men,  professing  to  fear  God  and  love  the  Saviour,  even 
when  God  makes  it  apparent  that  he  calls  them,  and  would 
make  them  useful  in  this  office,  if  devoted  to  it  in  heart  and 
purpose,  take  it  upon  them  to  put  it  away  from  them,  and 


22 

that,  too,  oti  the  very  grouud  that  it  demands  effort,  self- 
denial,  sacrifice,  devoteduess,  and  that  spiritualit}'  and  ac- 
tive zeal  whicli  they  are  not  disjxjsed  to  exercise  ?     And 
do  not  these  Elders  very  generally  imagine,  that  their  du- 
ty is  pert()rmed  if  they  are  present  at  the  Session,  if  they 
stand  to  receive  the  contributions  for  the  poor  and  other 
purjjoses,  if  they  aid  in  distributing  the  funds,  and  offici- 
ate at  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper?     Whereas, 
all  these  duties,  except  that  of  composing  a  member  of 
the  Session,  might  be  discharged  by  any  individual  act- 
ing under  the  authority  of  the  Minister,  and  as  it  regards 
the  poor,  the  Deacon  alone  is  authorized  to  act,  Elders 
having  no  Scriptural  power  in  this  matter.     If,  therefore, 
we  deduct  from  the  present  functions  of  our  Elders,  their 
assistance  at  the   Communion,   and  in  the   collection  of 
funds,  what  services  do  they  render  to  the  cause  of  Christ  ? 
— in  what  respect  do  they    promote  the  prosperity  of  the 
Church?     What  do  they  more  than  others? — and  what 
account  of  their  Stewardship  will  they  render  at  the  bar 
of  Him  to  whose  services  they  have  been  voluntarily  and 
solemnly  ordained  ?     Is  it  not  a  fact,  as  it  is  said  of  Scotland, 
that  there  is  no  regular  visitation  of  the  parish — no  se(,'k- 
iug  of  the  fruit  in  the  people  of  the  seed  sown  by  the  Min- 
ister— no  aduionishing  of  the  backsliding — no  exhorting 
of  the  weak — no  reconciling  of  those  who  are  at  variance 
— no  comforting  of  the  desponding — no  consoling  of  the 
afflicted — no  supporting  of  the  sick,  and  no  praymg  with 
tlie  dying.*     In  short,  adds  this  v^^riter,  they  have  nothing 
of  the  spirit  and  nothing  of  the  efficacy  of  their  office,  and 
for  aught  of  spiritual  duty  they  perform,  the  Church  might 
as  well  be  without  Elders  altogether.     Neither  do  they 
take  their  part  in  the  more  general  government  of  the 
Church,  by  attending  Presbj'teries,  and  Synods,  Sec.     The 
importance  of  duly  performing  their  functions  in  this  re- 
spect, is  very  great.     It  tends  to  take  away  that  limited, 

•Prcb.  Rec.  Jan.  1835,  p.  163. 


23 

corporate  spirit  which  is  always  Hkely  to  prevail  in  a  body 
exclusively  ofthe  same  profession  and  mode  of  thinking, 
and  thus  to  improve  the  deliberations  of  the  Church 
Courts,  and  at  the  same  time  to  save  the  Church  from  that 
character  of  a  Corporation  of  Ministers,  which  is  so  apt 
to  produce  a  feeling  of  jealousy  on  the  part  of  the  people: 
while  it  further  exhibits  the  Church  in  her  true  charac- 
ter, as  comprehending  not  merely  the  Clergy,  but  all  class- 
es of  the  community.*  Our  Elders,  as  a  body,  are  not 
certainly  such  as  they  should  be,  and  even  were  they  in 
all  respects  such  as  they  ought  to  be,  yet  would  their 
number  and  their  mode  of  action  be  totally  unfit  to  accom- 
plish the  great  objects  for  which  this  office  was  designed. 

I  am  aware  that  there  are  exceptions  to  these  remarks. 
Yes,  blessed  be  God,  there  are  many  in  our  land,  whose 
desire  it  is  to  do  the  will  of  him  who  hath  called  them, 
and  to  be  faithful  stewards.  I  am  also  aware,  that  in 
many  of  our  Churches,  as  in  ray  own,  the  present  incum- 
bents are  far  advanced  in  years,  or  are  so  situated  in  life 
as  to  find  little  opportunity  for  the  full  discharge  of  their 
office,  and  I  trust  also,  that  better  days  are  dawning  upon 
us, — but  that  such  is  the  general  character  of  the  present 
Eldership  of  our  Church,  cannot,  we  lament  to  say,  be 
even  questioned. 

Whence,  then,  is  this  sad  declension,  this  mournful  apa- 
thy, this  death-hke  stupor,  by  which  the  Church  of  the 
living  God  is  transformed  into  a  valley  of  dry  bones,  with 
the  voice  of  the  preacher  in  vain  calling  upon  them  to  live  ? 
It  is  to  be  traced,  we  think,  in  the  first  place,  to  the  want 
of  a  more  warm,  operative,  and  energetic  piety,  and  to  the 
existence  of  that  cold,  calculating,  selfish  Christianity, 
which  is  scarcely  sufficient  to  animate  the  dull  form  of 
worldliness  in  which  it  operates.  Another  source  of  this 
declension,  is  the  ignorance  of  our  Churches  as  to  the 
real  character,  qualifications,  authority  and  duty  of  the 

'  Presb.  Rec.  Jan.  1835,  p.  163» 


24 

Eldership.  A  third  source  of  the  evil  will  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  great  prejudices  exist  even  among  Elders  them- 
selves, against  the  introduction  into  this  office  of  young, 
and  well  qualified  and  devoted  Christians,  lest,  as  is  inti- 
mated by  the  writer  ah'eady  quoted,  their  inactivity  should 
be  disturbed,  and  their  neglect  of  duty  come  under  a  more 
rigid  observance.  A  fourth  reason  is  the  carelessness  and 
indifference  of  Churches  on  this  subject.  If  they  can  secure 
a  Minister  who  wilt  he  popular  enough  to  hold  together 
the  Congregation,  they  fold  their  arms  to  sleep,  and  cast- 
ing all  the  burden  of  the  Church  on  him,  throw  them- 
selves, with  all  their  powers  and  facultiesj  into  the  business 
or  politics  of  the  world,  or  at  most  into  the  mere  temporal 
and  outward  concerns  of  the  Church.  A  fifth  reason  is, 
the  low  estimation  in  which  the  character  and  office  of 
the  Elder  is  held  by  the  people.  Instead  of  being  regard- 
ed as  instituted  by  God,  as  of  equal  authority  with  the 
Ministry,  and  for  equally  important  ends,  to  which  they 
are  under  equal,  though  not  perhaps  as  high  obligations, 
and  for  the  treatment  of  which  they  shall  be  held  respon- 
sible— it  is  regarded  as  a  mere  sinecure,  a  mere  nominal, 
unnecessary,  and  unimportant  office.  Connected  with 
this,  is  the  fact,  that  those  who  would  give  to  the  office 
that  respectability,  character,  standing,  and  influence, 
which  it  ought  to  have,  nre  unwilling  to  assume  it,  and  it 
is  thus  thrown  often  upon  the  humbler  njembers  of  the 
congregation,  and  is  then  in  return  despised  or  disesteemed 
by  these  very  individuals  themselves.  Will  God  hold 
such  Christians  guiltless  ? 

In  what  way  may  these  evils  be  remedied  .'*  To  this 
question  a  few  remarks  will  be  made  in  reply.  These 
evils  are  to  be  corrected,  in  the  first  place,  by  the  revival 
of  [)ure  and  undefiled  religion,  without  which  even  the 
things  that  remain  will  die.  Secondly,  by  the  diffusion 
of  correct  information  on  this  subject,  and  this  will  be  ac- 
complished by  preaching  upon  it — b}'  inducing  Elders  to 


25 

attpnd  Presbytery— by  requiring  their  discharge  of  duty, 
and  by  putting  into  circulation  those  works  in  which  these 
things  are  discussed.*  Thirdly,  by  training  up  young 
Christians  in  view  of  tiie  claims  olGod  and  of  the  Church, 
upon  their  activity  and  talents.  Finally,  by  giving  more 
respectability  to  the  office.*  This  will  be  effected  by  the 
appointment  of  respectable  men,  who  will  be  induced  to 
act,  when  our  people  have  correct  views  of  the  magnitude 
and  i  mportance  of  the  office.  In  Scotland,  and  in  many  con- 
gregations in  this  country,  ruling  Elders  will  be  found  to  be 
among  the  most  honourable  and  wealthy  members  of  the 
community.  Fifthly,  by  restoring  Presbyterial  visitation 
and  examination  of  the  Churches.  Sixthly,  by  increasing 
the  interest  of  the  meetings  of  Presbytery.  Seventhly, 
much  is  also  to  be  done  by  elders  themselves.  A  Session 
in  Scotland,  consisting  of  twenty-four  members,  agreed 
every  half  year  to  have  a  meeting,  and  to  put  to  them- 
selves and  to  each  other  these  questions. 

Do  you  visit  the  sick  in  your  quarter,  exhort  and  pray 
with  them.^ 

Do  you  worship  God  in  your  family,  morning  and  eve- 
ning? 

Do  you  instruct  and  catechise  your  children  and  family 
in  the  principles  of  religion? 

Is  there  any  unpurged  scandal  in  your  quarter  of  the 
parish  ? 

Do  you  exhort  the  ignorant  and  children  to  diligence  In 
acquiring  the  principles  of  religion? 

Do  3'^ou  attend  the  judicatories  of  the  Church  when  ap- 
pointed ? 

Do  you  attend  and  encourage  societies  for  prayer  and 
Christian  conference  ;  j)nrticularly  the  monthly  meetings 
of  the  Elders  for  that  ])urp()se  ? 

Do  you  study  to  reconcile  differences  that  occur  in  your 
quarter  ? 

*Thc  aiiihnr  woulri  recommend,  for  this  purpose.  Dr.  Eagles'  Traci  on  the 
Eldership,  fonning  No.  2  of  the  Trarfs  of  the  Preebylerian  Tract  Societj". 

4 


26 

Do  you  recommend  religious  and  practical  godliness  ii3 
your  quarter,  by  precept  and  example,  and  rebuke  what 
is  amiss? 

Do  you  study,  according  to  Christ's  command,  to  re- 
claim offenders  in  private  and  secret,  before  you  declare 
them  to  the  Session  ? 

Do  you  make  conscience  of  declaring  your  mind,  as  to 
admitting  and  debarring  from  the  Lord's  supper,  when 
the  congregation  roll  is  read  sessionally,  for  that  purpose  ? 
Whatever  may  be  the  best  mode  of  remedying  existing 
evils,  it  is  evident  that  something  must  be  done,  and  that 
speedily.     For  otherwise  the  most  disastrous  results  will 
follow.     Ministers  are  now  overburdened    and  l^roken 
down — the  cause  of  Christ  languishes,  not  because  the 
field  is  not  white  unto  the  harvest,  but  because  the  labour- 
ers are  few — errors  of  the  most  pernicious  character  are 
spreading  their  baneful  influence  through  the  Church,  be- 
cause Ministers  have  not  time  to  study  and  to  indoctrinate 
their  people  in  the  truth  of  God — the  springs  of  benevolent 
operations  stop,  and  there  ai'e  none  to  keep  them  in  order 
and  in  motion — and  when  a  revival  does  take  place  in 
any  Church,  there  are  none  to  unite  in  gathering  in  the 
harvest,  which  is  thus  suffered  to  perish  or  to  be  greatly 
injured. 

Had  we  time,  we  might  shew  how  eflRcient  onr  Church 
woukl  become,  were  our  Elders  as  numerous  and  as  ac- 
tive as  they  should  be. 

**  A  statement  appended  to  the  '  Eldership'  as  to  the 
♦•  moral  machinery'  of  the  parish  of  St.  John's,  Glasgow,  of 
«♦  which  the  great  moving  power  is  the  eldership,  affords 
•'  an  admirable  illustration  of  what  might  be  effected,  and 
"in  a  comparatively  shoi-t  |)eriod  of  time,  were  that  part 
"of  our  establishment  on  the  footing  upon  which  it  ought 
"  to  be  placed.  That  parish,  situated  in  nearly  the  worst 
"  part  of  Glasgow,  contains  a  population  of  11,513.  This 
"is  about  four  times  the  proper  extent  of  a  single  parish. 


27 

**  and  the  population  is  of  a  very  inferior  description.  It 
*'  was  only  erected  into  a  separate  parish  in  1818,  when 
*'  it  was  nearly  a  moral  wilderness.  Happily  falling  un- 
*'  der  the  charge  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  he  framed  the  machi- 
*'  nery  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  our  church, 
*'  and  as  if  to  shew  that  it  was  to  the  system  and  not  mere- 
*'  ly  to  the  man  that  its  efficacy  was  truly  to  be  attributed, 
«*  he  left  it  after  a  few  years,  and  it  has  worked  equally 
**  well  under  both  his  successors.  At  present,  besides  the 
"  minister  with  a  salary  of  ,£425  guaranteed  by  the  magis- 
*'  trates  of  Glasgow,  but  far  more  than  covered  by  the 
*'  seat-rents,  there  is  a  chapel  of  ease  built  since  the  erec- 
"tion  of  tlie  parish,  the  minister  having  a  salary  of  £150 
*'  secured  by  bond  on  the  part  of  private  individuals, — four 
*'  missionaries  at  £50  each  obtained  by  contributions  from 
**  the  congregation, — twenty-seven  elders, — twenty-three 
**  deacons, — twenty-nine  Sabbath  school  teachers  instruct- 
"  ing  1180  children, — four  parochial  schools  attended  by 
"  646  scholars, — two  infant  schools,  and  one  female  school 
"  of  industry, — while  in  this  large  mass  of  a  working  po- 
*'  pulation  there  are  only  eighty-six  regular  and  eleven 
*'  non-regular  paupers,  and  all  supported  by  the  collections  at 
"  the  church  doors.  Great  and  valuable  as  are  these  fruits 
"  of  the  exertions  of  the  St.  John's  eldership,  it  is  yet  far 
**  from  realizing  all  the  advantages  which  ought  to  be  at- 
**  tained,  and  once  in  that  very  city  were  attained.  The 
*'  total  number  of  families  in  St.  John's  parish  is  stated  to 
"  be  2585,  while  the  number  of  elders  being  twenty-seven, 
"  gives  an  average  of  ninety-six  families  under  the  charge 
"  of  each.  Now  it  appears  that  in  the  interval  between 
"  the  second  Reformation  in  1638  and  the  Restoration,  the 
"  city  of  Glasgow  was  divided  into  five  quarters,  each 
"  having  eighteen  elders  and  as  many  deacons.  Each 
*'  quarter  or  parish  again  was  divided  into  proportions  or 
"  districts,  with  elders  specially  allotted  to  each,  and  the 
"  division  of  one  of  these  quarters,  with  the  number  of  fa- 


28 

"  niilies  and  elders,  we  find  engrossed  in  the  session  re- 
"  cords  under  date  April  18, 1657,  shewing  us  exactly  the 
"  number  of  families  allotted  to  each  elder.  The  east  quar- 
•'  ter  is  there  stated  to  be  divided  into  eighteen  propor- 
"  tions,  corresponding  to  the  number  of  elders,  whereof 
"  twelve  had  twenty-nine  families,  and  the  remaining  six 
•'  nineteen  families  each,  in  all  402  families,  or  about  2000 
*'  souls,  distributed  among  eighteen  elders,  giving  to  each 
"  an  average  of  twenty -two  families,  or  about  a  hundred 
"  souls,  instead  of  ninety-six  families,  or  about  450  souls, 
**  as  is  the  case  at  present  in  St.  John's.  These  eighteen 
*'  elders  were  further  required  (and  it  was  a  duty  which 
*'  with  so  reasonable  a  portion  of  families  under  their 
*'  charge,  they  could  easily  perform)  to  visit  their  propor- 
•'  tion  once  a  month,  and  oiice  every  three  months  to  give 
"  into  the  session  a  written  report  of  its  condition." 

Another  illustration  of  the  power  of  the  eldership  and 
the  strength  it  gives  to  the  Church,  may  be  found  in  a  short 
notice  of  one  w'ho  filled  this  office  tor  many  years  of  his  life. 

"  The  late  Patrick  Falconer,  Esq.  was  first  called  to  the 
♦'  Eldership,  in  the  Tron  Parish,  under  the  pastoral  charge 
*'  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  and  subsequently  in  St.  John's.  Of  all 
*'  the  active,  lal)orious,  and  faithful  men,  with  whom  Dr. 
"  Chalmers  was  surrounded  and  supported,  this  gentle- 
"  man  was  in  labours  the  most  abundant,  and  in  perseve- 
"  ranee  the  most  unwearied  ;  and  with  one  accord,  we 
"  are  sure,  the  Session  of  St.  John's  will  concede  to  their 
••  departed  brother  the  pre-emhience  in  this  work^and  la- 
*'bour  of  love.  For  the  last  seventeen  years  of  his  lite, 
"  he  fjave  all  his  leisure,  and  for  the  last  ten,  the  whole  of 
"  his  time,  to  the  duties  of  this  office.  Whilst  many  re- 
*'  tired  and  fortunate  merchants  think  they  have  no  ac- 
**  count  to  render  of  their  time  to  Cod,  and  loiter  and 
"  lounge  away  the  remainder  of  their  days,  barren  of  pro- 
♦«  fit  either  to  themselves  or  the  community, — this  good 
*'  man  increased  in  well-doing,  as  he  increased  in  years  ; 


29 

*  whilst  some  grew  weary  of  their  labour  of  love,  he  grew 
**  more  devoted;  and  whilst  others  doffed  tlieir  S])iritual 
"office,  and  shrunk  into  mere  men  of  the  world,   he  be- 
"  came  more  single-hearted  as  he  advanced  in  life,  and 
**  lived  more  exclusively  for  the  glory  of  the  Master  whom 
•'  he  served.     Every  day,  when  in  health,   was  he  to  be 
"  seen  wending  his  way  from  his  residence  to  the  west  end 
"of  the  city,  to  the  farthest  extremity  of  the  east,   where 
"  his  poor  district  lay  ;  and,  punctual  to  his  hour,  the  shop- 
•'  keepers  inquired  if  all  was  well,  when  they  missed  his 
"  familiar  face  and  figure,  or  were  defrauded,  for  a  day, 
"  of  his  passing  salutation.     Twice  or  thrice  every  year 
"  he  regularly  visited  each  of  the  eighty-three  families  in 
*'  his  district,  besitles  his  visitation  of  the  sick  ;  and  we  are 
"  assCired  that  he  was  300  days  out  of  the  365  in  his  dis- 
"  trict.     No  London  magistrate  ever  acquainted  himself 
"  more  laboriously  with  the  worst  districts  of  the  metropo- 
•'  lis,  in  order  to  detect  and  punish,  than  this  gentleman 
*'  did  in  his   plebeian  district,  in  order  to  prevent  crime 
"  and  reform  the  criminal.     On  the  practical  experience 
"  of  this  laborious  office-bearer   in  the   church,   all   oood 
"  men  will  set  a  just  value  ;  and  we  feel,  therefore,  great 
"  pleasure  in  giving  that  experience  in  his  own  words,  as 
"  conveyed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomson  of  Dysart,  four  years 
"  ago,  in  answer  to  a  letter  from  that  gentleman,  request- 
"  ing  his  opinion  on  this  subject.     Mr.  Thomson  informs 
"  us  that  he  read  the  letter  to  his  own  Session  at  its  first 
"  meeting,  on  which  one  of  the  brethren  remarked,  thatit 
"  had  a  speaking  language  ;  and  we  now  have  great  plea- 
*♦  sure  in  adding  it  is  a  most  suitable  sequel  to  the  preced- 
"  in2  remarks  : — 

«"Rev.  and  dear  Sir, — I  duly  received  your  much 
"  esteemed  letter  of  the  1 1th  instant.  It  is  with  mucii 
"  pleasure  I  sit  down  to  attempt  something  answering  the 
"  object  you  have  in  view ;  although,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
"  that  an  exact  detail  of  my  procedure  would  not  be  so 


30 

"  much  to  that  purpose  as  I  could  wish,  or  as  it  ought  to 
"  be.  I  shall  therefore  make  use  of  it  only  as  occasion 
"  may  offer,  in  the  way  of  perhaps  mentioning  what  I  ex- 
"  perience. 

"  'Allow  me,  then,  to  mention,  in  the  first  place,  what 
♦•  has  often  struck  me  with  peculiar  force,  and  which 
"  is,  that  if  a  National  Establishment  answer  at  all  its  in- 
♦*  tended  purpose,  it  must  supply  a  religious  superinten- 
"  dence  to  the  whole  of  the  country  which  adopts  it ;  and 
"  that,  just  as  well  in  point  o^ i)enetrating  the  mass,  as  of 
"  converting  the  surface.  Accordingly,  it  is  always  made 
"  to  extend  over  the  whole  of  a  country,  by  parishes,  or 
"  districts,  such  as  were  originally  deemed  what  one  min- 
"  ister  could  superintend.  But  these  districts  remaining 
*'  locally  the  same,  while  the  population  in  them  has  pro- 
"  dif^iously  increased,  it  is  utterly  impossible  that  a  minis- 
"  ter  can  do  any  kind  of  justice  to  them  in  any  other  way 
»'  than  by  caUing  in  the  assistance  of  laymen.  This  is 
"  particularly  the  case  in  large  towns,  where,  in  conse- 
♦♦  quence  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  means  of  spiritual  im- 
"  provement,  multitudes  are  in  danger  of  sinking  into  a 
"state  of  ignorance  and  absolute  heathenism. 

"  To  counteract  and  remove  this  great  and  growing 
"  evil,  it  is  clear  that  every  possible  effort  should  be  made 
»*  by  the  friends  of  religion  to  render  the  Establishment  as 
"  efficient  as  may  be,  as  that  is  the  most  effectual  means 
"  of  reclaiming  those  who  wander  from  the  path  of  duty 
"  and  who  feel  as  if  no  man  cared  for  their  souls.  This 
*'  is,  certainly,  no  easy  undertaking.  In  the  present  state 
"  of  the  country,  a  religious  superintendence,  in  any  de- 
"  gree  at  all  promising  efficiency,  can  in  no  other  way  be 
«♦  accomplished,  but  by  a  numerous  arid  vital/ ij  sjnritual  el- 
•'  dershij),  or  lay  agency,  operating  in  concert  with  the 
"  parish  minister.  There  must  be  a  local  system  adapt- 
"  ed  to  the  wants  of  the  parishioners,  so  as  that  the  ground 
"  be  not  only  covered  without  omission,  but  thoroughly 


31 

"  pefvaded — so  thoroughly,  indeed,  that  all  may  feel  the 
"  life  and  energy  it  is  intended  to  infuse  into  their  minds. 
"  Sabbath  school  teachers,  of  course,  would  be  considered 
'*  as  forming  a  part  of  this  agency. 

"  '  But  to  come  to  the  eldership.     Perhaps  there  is  on 

"  this  subject  a  very  general  feeling  that  a  man  needs  to 

*'  be  disengaged  from  business,  in  some  considerable  de- 

"  gree  at  least,  before  he  can  efficiently  undertake  this 

*'  office.     My  experience  leads  me  to  think,  that  a  man 

"  who  can  spare  an  hour  a  day,  or  even  two  hours  a 

*'  week,  may  do  as  much  good  in  that  little  time  as  one 

*'  who  has  the  whole  of  his  time  at  his  disposal.     Besides, 

"  in  the  evangelizing  of  the  world,  it  is  evident  the  great 

"  power  must  come  from  the  little  of  each  agent  accumulat- 

"  ed  into  the  aggregate  of  the  many.    Each  and  every  man 

"  doing  the  little  he  can,  is  the  source  whence  the  irresis- 

*'  tible  force  at  length  is  to  come,  which,  in  Christ,   is  to 

"  overcome  the  deadness,  darkness,  and  depravity  which 

"  now  pervade  the  earth.     I  cannot,  while  on  this  point, 

"  forbear  to  notice  the  importance  of  doing  all  to  the  glory 

*'  of  God,  and  to  be  seen  of  Him,  and  of  coming,  not  only 

"  to  the  feehng  of  this,  as  our  motive  fordoing,  but  also  as 

"  our  excitement  to  do  whatever  we  have  within  the  com- 

"  pass  of  our  power.     What  I  mean  in  calling  attention 

"  to  this  failing  is  that  evidence  not  to  withhold  what  we 

*'  can  do  because  it  is  little.     Bat,  under  any  other  feeling, 

"  no  individual  will  do  any  thing  except  it  can  be  distinctly 

"  seen  as  a  great  thing  ;  and  this  is  the  cause  that  vast 

**  power,  which  might  be  collected  from  the  many,  is  lost. 

"  '  Proper  division  of  labour  is  also  vastly  important.     If 

*'  an  elder  is  disposed  and  peculiarly  fitted  to  act  spiritual- 

"  ly,  it  is  a  great  pity  that  any  part  of  his  time  should  be 

"  taken  up  with  what  any  man  may  do.     The  province  of 

"  the  elder  is  quite  distinct  from  that  of  the  deacon  ;  and,  to 

*'  render  the  parochial  system  efficient,  each  must  abide 

**  by  his  own  proper  calling.     Various  things,  such  as  dis- 


32 

"tributing  tracts,  or  missionary  intelligence,  or  reading  to 
*'  those  who  cannot  read  for  themselves,  may  be  easily 
"  done  by  snch  as  have  no  gift  for  exhortation  or  pray- 
"er. 

"  '  The  exact  plan  which  I  think  best  for  a  spiritual 
"  elder  to  adopt,  and  which  T  am  decidedly  of  opinion  is 
"  requisite  to  an  efficient  religious  superintendence  of  a 
*'  proportion,  is  that,  along  with  the  particular  calls  upon 
"  the  sick,  Sec,  he  keep  a  regular  progressive  visit  of  the 
"  whole  going  on  ;  so  that  he  may  visit  every  family  once, 
"  twice,  or  as  often  as  may  be,  within  the  year.  I  think 
•'  it  verv  important  that  he  do  not  allow  himself  to  act  as 
*'  a  judge  or  divider,  nor  even  very  much  as  an  adviser,  in 
"  worldly  matters.  It  is  astonishing  how  much  time  a 
"  single  instance  of  that  may  take,  when  fully  gone  into, 
"  and  perhaps  may  produce  in  the  end  no  good  whatever. 

"  '  Proportions  should  be  sma.ll  when  a  sufficient  num- 
"  her  can  be  got  ;  the  smaller,  down  to  even  two  hundred 
"  souls,  the  better.  Where  a  thorough  pervading  can  be 
*'  accomplished,  it  stimulates  to  the  keeping  of  it  up  ;  but 
•'  where  it  is  im[)ossil)le,  a  vague  '  do  at  random,  or  not  do 
*•  at  all,'  is  apt  to  take  place.  In  the  progressive,  or  all 
*'  over  visits,  the  topics  which  generally  have  occurred  to 
"  me  as  the  easiest  to  be  introduced,  are  those  connected 
"  with  the  state  of  theirchildren  as  to  reading  and  religious 
*'  instruction.  Here  a  fine  field  for  many  important  mat- 
"  ters  o])eas  to  our  view.  Every  elder  should  study  tofill 
*'  his  mouth  with  aruumenvs,  in  order  to  turn  parental  af- 
"  fection  to  the  eternal  interests  of  children,  instead  of  al- 
"  lowing  it  to  be  absorbed  entirely  by  their  temporal  con- 
"  cerns.  '  Seek  first,'  says  Christ,  '  the  kingdom  of  God 
"  and  his  righteousness,  and  all  these  things  sball  be  add- 
"  ed  unto  you.'  By  securing  salvation  all  is  secin-ed,  by 
"  not  seeking  to  S(x;ure  it,  is  the  sure  way  to  lose  all. 
"  Things  present  are  too  apt  to  engross  our  attention,  as 
"  if  they  were  the  only  objects  of  real  importance  ;  yet  we 


S3 

**  do  not  know  how  soon  they  may  pass  away,  like  tli@ 
**  vision  of  a  dream,  for  ever.     How  wise  it  is  then  to  look 
*'  steadily  to  the  objects  of  faith,  to  give  them  their  due 
"  place  in  our  thoughts  and  affections,  and  to  give  a  decided 
"  preference  to  that  better  part  which  shall  not  be  taken 
"  away !     We  should  keep  eternity  constantly    in   our 
"view,  and  act  under  the  felt  impression  of  the  unseen 
•*  world.     Every  spiritually-minded  elder  will  endeavour 
"  to  press  these  things  upon  the  people  of  his  charge  ;  he 
"  will  be  earnest  to  stir  up  parents  to  their  religious  du 
"  ties.     Families  should  be  spoken  to  on  the  duty  of  fami- 
**ly  worship,  and  the  daily  reading  of  the  word  of  God* 
*'  The  advantages  of  piety  should  be  set  forth  to  young 
*'  and  old,  as  claiming  their  highest  regard.     What  a  com- 
"  fort  will  be  afforded  to  bereaved  parents,  to  know  that 
"  their  children,  who  have  been  removed  from  them  iri 
'•  early  lifcj  were  brought  up  in  the  nurture  and  admoni- 
"  tion  of  the  Lord  !     Or  in  the  case  of  prolonged  life,  what 
**  a  blessedness  to  have  a  well-founded  prospect  of  ha])pi- 
*'  ness  beyond  death  and  the  grave  !     This  will  support 
"  them  under  the  trials  and  afflictions  of  life^  and  fortify 
'*  them  against  the  temptations  to  which  they  are  exposed* 
*"With  best  regards,  &-c* 
(Signed,)  "'Patrick  Falconer,'" 

With  such  examples  before  us  of  the  power,  efficiency^ 
and  usefulness  of  the  office  of"  the  Eldershij)^ — and  of  the 
practicability,  in  any  ordinary  circumstances  of  business,  of 
the  duties  it  requires,  are  we  not  called  upon^  as  we  regard 
the  purity,  the  peace,  the  stability,  aud  the  increase  of  the! 
Church,  to  use  all  our  influence  to  restore  it  wherever  it  is 
wanting,  and  to  perfect  it  whei'e  it  may  already  exist.  And 
should  this  be  the  result  of  our  labours,  we  would  leave  a 
rich  legacy  to  our  children,  and  advance  the  honour  and 
the  cause  of  Christ  more  than  by  any  other  possible? 
instrumentality. 


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